Slide lock for a binding element



Feb. 19, 1963 Filed July 21, 1958 J. F- THIEME SLIDE LOCK FOR A BINDING ELEMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 19, 1963 J. F. THlEME 3,077,888

SLIDE LOCK FOR A BINDING ELEMENT Filed July 21, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lllii IWIIA JUL/U5 mam/5 3,077,888 SLIDE LOCK FOR A BINDING ELEMENT Julius F. Thienie, Park Ridge, 31., assignor to General binding Corporation, Northbrook, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed July 21, 1958, Ser. No. 750,014 4 Claims. (Cl. 129-24) This invention relates to a new improved binding element and more particularly relates to a novel locking device for locking the ring fingers of a metallic binding element or the like in the closed loop position.

Generally, metallic binding elements are formed with a plurality of opposed pairs of arcuately shaped ring fingers which are adapted to fit through a plurality of aligned perforations in a stack of sheets to be bound. A suitable means is usually provided for simultaneously, or substantially so, manually moving each pair of mating ring fingers out of juxtaposition with one another so that perforated sheets may be added to or take from the binding element.

It has been found, however, that when shock loads are applied to binding elements of this type as when such an element is dropped, the fingers often are opened and the perforated sheets bound thereby are spilled from the binder.

To remedy these obviously disadvantageous characteristics of such binding elements, applicant has devised a novel binding element having a manually movable lock associated therewith which is hereafter disclosed in detail.

Metal loose leaf binders, of the type to which applicants novel locking means is particularly directed, include a base portion or backbone having a plurality of ring fingers extending therethrough, which fingers are formed integrally with a pair of comb-shaped stampings. Each of the stampings have inturned flanges adjacent the undersurface of the backbone or adjacent a separate plate in juxtaposition to the undersurface of the backbone which pivotally abut one another so that upon separation of the ring fingers the inturned flanges abut the undersurface of the backbone or the plate in juxtaposition therewith so that opening movement of the ring fingers is thereby limited.

Applicant contemplates a novel locking arrangement for loose leaf binders of the type above described which comprises the provision of a movable lock having lugs formed integrally therewith wherein the lugs are arranged to be selectively interposed between the inturned flanges of the comb-shaped stampings and the backbone of the binder to prevent opening of the ring fingers.

As has been hereinbefore related it is well known that when loose leaf binders of the type above described, which are not provided with a means for locking the ring fingers in a closed position, are dropped or subjected to substantial shock they are liable to become opened thus releasing the sheets they were intended to bind. Accordingly, applicant has attempted to remedy and obviate these undesirable characteristics by providing a novel means for locking the ring fingers of such a binder in the closed position wherein only manual movement of the locking means will permit the opening of the ring fingers and wherein shock on the binder so locked will not cause opening of the ring fingers.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a novel means for releasably looking a plurality of ring fingers in a binder in the closed position.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a means for readily manually locking a plurality of ring fingers in a binding device of the type above described in the closed position wherein the subjection of the binding Patented Feb. 19, 1%53 device to shock will not cause opening of the ring fingers so locked.

A still further and important object of the present invention is to provide means for locking a plurality of ring fingers in a binder of the type above described in a closed position comprising the provision of manually movable lugs which can selectively be interposed between the inturned flanges of the comb-shaped stampings and the backbone or back portion of the binder to prevent opening movement of the ring fingers.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a binder lock of the type above described wherein the locking lugs are formed integrally with a plate slidably connected to the binding element and wherein the binder lock cannot be moved to the locked position when the ring fingers of the binding element are in the open position.

These and other obejcts of the present invention will become apparent from time to time as the following specification proceeds and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a binder embodying the principles of the present invention showing the binder mounted in a notebook;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through a binder embodying the principles of the present invention, showing the ring fingers in the open loop positron;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the binder illustrated in FIGURE 1, which is s1milar to FIGURE 2, but which shows the ring fingers in the closed loop position, and which shows the means for maintaining the fingers in that position;

FIGURE 4 is a bottom plan view of the binder illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 3 showing only one end of the binding element and the binder lock associated therewith;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical sectional view through a binder constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and showing the ring fingers in the closed loop position; FIGURE 6 is a vertical sectional view through a bindmg element constructed in accordance with the princi les of the present invention, similar in nature to FIGURE 5, but;1 showing the ring fingers in the open loop position; an

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view of the binder lock which forms the subject of the present invention.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings there is shown a binding element or binder 10 wh1ch is suitably secured to the back portion 11 of a notebook 12 in a manner which will hereinafter be more fully described. The back portion 11 of the notebook 12 is shown as including a stiffening board 13 which underlies a metallic support 14 having a plurality of upwardly disposed recesses 15. A covering 16 of leather, cloth or other suitable material is shown as being formed about the supporting members 13 and 14 of the back portion 11 and as being fitted about the similarly constructed supportlng members of front and rear covers lfiand 19, respectively, 0f the notebook 12, and as being suitably apertured to fit about the upwardly disposed recessed portions 15 of the supporting plate 14.

The binder lit comprises an arcuately shaped backbone 20 hav ng integrally formed depending flanges 21 and 22 extending along opposed longitudinal edges thereof. A pair of comb-shaped stampings 23 and 24 have inturned flanges 25 and 26, respectively, and have a plurality of ring fingers 27 and 28, respectively, extending therefrom which are associated with the backbone 2t) and are so positioned that each of the ring fingers extends through suitable re- 3 ceiving apertures 27a and 28a, respectively, in the backbone 20.

It will be particularly noted in FIGURE 1 that the fingers 27 are suitably recessed in the outer free ends thereof to receive complementary free end portions of the ring fingers 28, when the fingers are in the closed loop position as shown therein.

Referring now more particularly to FIGURES 4 through 6 it will be noted that the inturned flanges 25 and 26 of the comb-shaped stampings 23 and 24 are formed with a plurality of concave recesses 29 along the abutting longitudinal edges thereof which lie intermediate a plurality of projecting engaging nibs 30 so as to form a plurality of apertures 31 in the spaces between said nibs.

It will be noted from FIGURES 5 and 6 that the extending nibs 30 of the inturned flange 26 have a concave grooved portion 32 extending along the inner longitudinal edge thereof which is cooperable with a convex portion 33 formed along the inner longitudinal edges of the nibs 30 of the inturned flange 25 to provide a knife edge rocking connection permitting rockable movement of the flanges 25 and 26 with respect to one another.

It will be noted in FIGURES 2, 3, 5 and 6 that a spring steel plate 34 is formed in a generally arcuate shape and is positioned in juxtaposition to the undersurface of the backbone and that the longitudinal edges of the plate rest on the comb-shaped stampings 23 and 24 adjacent the junction between the flanges 25 and 26 and the ring fingers 27 and 28, respectively. An axial recess 34a is impressed in the stamping 34 to provide flexure for the plate 34 when the ring fingers 27 and 28 are opened and closed. Thus, since the outer longitudinal edges of the plate 34 engage the stampings 23 and 24 and since the knife edge rocking connection between the flanges 25 and 26 in past dead center when the fingers 27 and 28 are then opened and closed positions the fingers 27 and 23 will open and close with a snap action.

A release lever 35 is transversely pivoted on the backbone 20 adjacent the outer end thereof. Said release lever is shown as having lugs 36 projecting laterally from opposite sides thereof which are suitably pivoted in the depending flanges 21 and 22 of the backbone 26 adjacent the end of said backbone. The release lever 35 has a central lug 37 underlying the inturned flanges 25 and 26 as their juncture. The release lever 35 may be pushed downwardly to bring the lug 37 upwardly into engagement with the adjacent ends of the inturned flanges 25 and 26, to snap the ring fingers 27 and 28 to the open position illustrated in FIGURE 6. There may, of course, be a release lever provided at each end of the binder 10, to facilitate the opening of the ring fingers 27 and 28 for insertion of or removal of sheets from the binder.

The binder lock 40, which forms the subject of the present invention, is shown as comprising a flat plate 41 which is apertured as at 32, 43, and 44 and which has a pair of opposed outwardly extending flanges 45 and 46 formed integrally therewith and forming a grip for the fingers. With particular reference to FIGURE 4 of the drawings, it will be noted that the plate 41 is so formed that it can be fitted between the depending longitudinal flanges 21 and 22 on the backbone 20 and that it may be maintained in such a position by bending the outer ends of the flanges 21 and 22 toward one another.

Referring now more particularly to FIGURES 2, 3, and 7, a pair of stepped nibs 47 and 48 are formed integrally with the plate 41 and extend thereupon toward the inturned flanges 25 and 26 of the respective ring fingers 27 and 28 and register within the apertures 30 and 31. The innermost nib 48 has double steps 49 and 50 as shown most clearly in FIGURE 3. When the ring fingers of the binding element are in the open position shown in FIG- URES 2 and 6, the nib 47 and the first step 49 of the nib 48 are arranged to overlie the nibs 30 of the flanges 25 and 26. The upper surface of the second step 56 of the nib 48 extends through an arcuate aperture 32 into Cit slidable engagement with the underside of the longitudinal recessed portion 34a of the spring steel plate 34. It will further be noted that each of the apertures 31 are longer than the nibs 47 and 48, so that when the ring fingers 27 and 28 are snapped to the open position by the lever 35, as shown in FIGURE 6, the flanges 25 and 26 will snap into engagement with the underside of the longitudinal recessed portion 34a of the spring steel plate 34, freely bypassing each of the nibs 47 and 48.

When, however, the plate 41 is manually moved inwardly along the backbone 20 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 3 the nibs 47 and 48 engaging between the nibs 30, 30 of the flanges 25 and 26 and the underside of the recessed portion 34a of the spring steel plate 34 will lock the ring fingers closed and will prevent opening thereof either manually or as a result of shock.

When it is desired to manually open the ring fingers to the positions illustrated in FIGURES 2, 4, and 6 the slide lock 40 may be moved outwardly to the positions illustrated in FIGURES 2, 4, and 6 and the fingers may be snapped to the open position by manual operation of the release lever or levers 35 in the manner hereinbefore described.

It will further be noted that when the ring fingers are in the open position the inner end of the second step 50 of the nib 48 abuts the inner end of the wall portion of the flanges 25 and 26 defining the aperture 31, so that the slide lock 40 cannot be moved to a locking position when the ring fingers are in the open position.

It will be noted that an inturned outwardly extending nib 51 is formed integrally with the plate 41 and that the nib is arranged to engage the wall portion of the flanges 25 and 26 defining one of the apertures 31 to provide a stop for preventing excessive outward movement of the slide lock 40 to the unlocked position.

Referring again to FIGURE 4 of the drawings, it will be noted that a rivet receiving aperture 52 is formed within the backbone 20 of the binding element 10 in registry with one of the apertures 31 which overlies the slide lock 40. As shown in the drawings the rivet 53 received within the aperture 52 is secured to the recess 15 but does not interfere with movement of the slide lock 40 since it extends through the aperture 43 in the plate 41.

It will herein be understood that the embodiment of the invention shown and described has been used for illustrative purposes only and that various modifications and variations in the present invention may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts thereof.

I claim as my invention:

1. A binder lock for a binding element including an arcuate backbone, a plurality of apertures extending along opposed longitudinal edges of said backbone, a plurality of ring fingers extending through said apertures and cooperable to form a plurality of closed loops, inturned flanges formed integrally with the ring fingers extending from each longitudinal edge of said backbone and pivotally engaging one another on the underside of said backbone and spaced from said backbone when said fingers are in the closed loop position, an axially movable sliding lock associated with said binding element, nibs formed integrally with said sliding lock positionable between said inturned flanges and said backbone to prevent opening movement of said ring fingers, and means on said sliding lock for preventing locking movement of said sliding lock when said ring fingers are in the open position.

2. A binder lock for a binding element having a backbone and having a plurality of ring fingers pivotally mounted on said backbone cooperable in one position to form closed loops, flanges extending from said fingers on one side of said backbone, a locking element mounted on said backbone for sliding movement therealong, nibs extending from and formed integrally with said element engageable with said flanges in one position of said element to prevent pivotal movement of said fingers from the closed to the open loop position, and means comprising an extension from said nibs engageable with edge portions of said flanges for preventing locking movement of said element when said fingers are in the open loop position.

3. A binder lock for a binding element having a backbone and having a plurality of ring fingers pivotally mounted on said backbone cooperable in one position to form closed loops, flanges extending from said fingers on one side of said backbone, wherein said flanges are cut out to define a plurality of apertures, a locking element mounted on said backbone for sliding movement therealong, nibs extending from and formed integrally with said element extensible within said apertures and engageable with said flanges in one position of said element to prevent pivotal movement of said fingers from the closed to the open loop position, and means forming an extension of said nibs engageable with the edges of said flanges defining said apertures for preventing locking movement of said element when said flanges are in the open loop position.

4. A binder lock for a binding element including an arcuate backbone, a plurality of apertures extending along opposed longitudinal edges of said backbone, a plurality of ring fingers extending through said apertures and cooperable to form a plurality of closed loops, inturned flanges formed integrally with the ring fingers extending from each longitudinal edge of said backbone and pivotally engaging one another on the underside of said backbone and spaced from said backbone when said fingers are in the closed loop position, a locking element mounted for sliding movement on said backbone and having a finger portion positionable between said inturned flanges and said backbone to prevent opening movement of said ring fingers and having an abutment portion engageable with edges of said inturned flanges when said fingers are in the open loop position preventing positioning of said locking element to lock said fingers in that open loop position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 974,831 Scherzinger Nov. 8, 1910 2,013,416 McClure Sept. 3, 1935 2,950,719 Lyon Aug. 30, 1960 

1. A BINDER LOCK FOR A BINDING ELEMENT INCLUDING AN ARCUATE BACKBONE, A PLURALITY OF APERTURES EXTENDING ALONG OPPOSED LONGITUDINAL EDGES OF SAID BACKBONE, A PLURALITY OF RING FINGERS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID APERTURES AND COOPERABLE TO FORM A PLURALITY OF CLOSED LOOPS, INTURNED FLANGES FORMED INTEGRALLY WITH THE RING FINGERS EXTENDING FROM EACH LONGITUDINAL EDGE OF SAID BACKBONE AND PIVOTALLY ENGAGING ONE ANOTHER ON THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID BACKBONE AND SPACED FROM SAID BACKBONE WHEN SAID FINGERS ARE IN THE CLOSED LOOP POSITION, AND AXIALLY MOVABLE SLIDING LOCK ASSOCIATED WITH SAID BINDING ELEMENT, NIBS FORMED INTEGRALLY WITH SAID SLIDING LOCK POSITIONABLE BETWEEN SAID INTURNED FLANGES AND SAID BACKBONE TO PREVENT OPENING MOVEMENT OF SAID RING FINGERS, AND MEANS ON SAID SLIDING LOCK FOR PREVENTING LOCKING MOVEMENT OF SAID SLIDING LOCK WHEN SAID RING FINGERS ARE IN THE OPEN POSITION. 